The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation (47 member states; headquarters in Strasbourg, France). It aims to create a common democratic and legal area throughout the continent where respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law are ensured. All the Council of Europe’s actions are shaped by these values and by an enduring concern to promote social inclusion and cohesion, and respect for diversity.
 

 More: Languages for democracy and social cohesion. Diversity, equity and quality. Sixty years of European co-operation. A brief review

For several decades one of the Council’s major education programmes has developed policy and guidelines to promote linguistic diversity and plurilingualism, and reference instruments to support policy and curricula planning in member states (www.coe.int/lang).
 

Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants (LIAM)

The programme has also addressed the linguistic integration of adult migrants (LIAM). Migrants’ acquisition of competence in the language(s) of the host country is a focus for political debate and policy initiatives in a growing number of Council of Europe member states. The LIAM project (www.coe.int/lang-migrants) offers support to policy makers and practitioners who are working to facilitate migrants’ integration into civil society.
 

Language support for adult refugees: a Council of Europe toolkit

The Council of Europe has developed this toolkit to help volunteers and refugees in member states face the linguistic challenges caused by large-scale movements of refugees.

It was the first initiative of this kind at the European level at the time of its launch.